Scheve, Prof. Edward B. 1865-1924

SCHEVE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/17/2013 at 14:33:28

The Grinnell (IA) Herald

THE SUDDEN DEATH OF
PROFESSOR SCHEVE

The community of Grinnell was shocked immeasurably at the news which came Thursday morning, June 19, of the death the night before, in the hospital at Longmont, Colorado, of Professor Edward B. Scheve, our "beloved musician." Mr. and Mrs. Scheve had been in Grinnell for several days late in May, on the way to their cottage in the Colorado mountains, after two years spent in travel and rest in the east. Mr. Scheve was in the best of health and high spirits; he played at senior chapel in his inimitable way, and his return to his work in September seemed to be anticipated as much by himself, as by his hosts of friends. After reaching their cottage, where he seemed to enjoy himself more than usual, he over-exerted himself battling deep snowdrifts that had piled up late in the season; an old ailment, but not a serious one, took him to the hospital, where an operation was decided upon; following complications were severe, and after several days of suffering he succumbed, with not one of this thousands of friends near him, but only his devoted wife. Funeral services were held at the First Congregational church of Grinnell Saturday afternoon, June 21; he is buried in Hazelwood.

Professor Scheve was born at Herford, Germany, in 1865. He came to America about 1890, first to Rochester, N.Y., where through the friendship between his father and the elder Rauschenbusch he found a welcome. After a number of years of highly successful musical work in Chicago, Professor Scheve came to Grinnell in 1906. He found an immediate place in the heart of all Grinnell--students, faculty, and townspeople--not only because of his musicianship, which was a revelation, but because of the rare charm of his character and the distinction of his personality.

The attachment which Grinnell felt for the Scheves was happily reciprocated. Many calls to positions in metropolitan centers came to him, but he loved Grinnell. Twice with Mrs. Scheve, he took leaves of absence abroad; at the time of his death they were nearing the end of a two years' leave spent most happily in renewing their associations of former years in the east.

The magnitude of his genius is greater than any of us who were associated with him yet realize. He was a great teacher, a great organist, and a great composer. He made Grinnell musical, and any future history of the college and the town will number him among the real founders of Grinnell.

Mrs. Scheve for the present will make her home in Grinnell, among the neighbors who, with thousand of friends all over the world, join in one common tribute to the greatness and lovableness of the departed master.